Transportable weathertight EMI shielded cabinet structure

Abstract

A weathertight and EMI shielded cabinet (10) for housing electronic equipment is disclosed. The cabinet (10) is structurally supported and framed by a tubular frame (30) which defines a generally rectangular structure having upper horizontal frame members (34, 36), lower horizontal frame members (38, 40), and vertical corner posts (42). The tubular frame (30) may include internal cross members (60, 62) to further reinforce the structure. Door openings are further defined by vertical door frame members (56). A plurality of outer skins (80, 84, 110, 111, 112, 90, 102) are welded to the tubular frame (30) and substantially enclosing it and hiding it from view. The outer skins also define the door frames (90, 92, 94, 102, 104, 106) welded to the vertical door frame members (36) and upper and lower horizontal frame members (34, 36, 38, 40), forming a generally vertical door-frame mating plane. The doors (16, 18) are hung in the door openings and operable to substantially close the door opening and meet the door-frame mating plane. Flat strips of environmental and EMI shielding gaskets (100, 132, 138) are used between the door (16, 18) and the door frame skins (90, 92, 94, 102, 104, 106) where they meet in the door-frame mating plane.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A weathertight and EMI shielded cabinet for housing electronic equipment, comprising: a generally rectangular frame having four upper horizontal frame members, four lower horizontal frame members, and four vertical frame members bonded to one another, at least two of said vertical frame members defining at least one door opening;   a plurality of outer skins welded to said rectangular frame and substantially enclosing it therein, said plurality of outer skins defining an upper side, four vertical sides, and a lower side of said cabinet, said outer skins further defining a door frame around said at least one door opening, said plurality of outer skins comprise: at least one floor skin welded to said lower frame members and forming a floor;   four corner skins welded to said frame members, said corner skins substantially enclosing said vertical frame members; and   a roof welded to said four corner skins; and     at least one door hung in said at least one door opening, said at least one door having an exterior surface forming a substantially vertical plane with said respective vertical side of the cabinet.   
     
     
       2. The cabinet, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said floor skin forms a lower portion of said door frame, said corner skins form vertical portions of said door frame, and said plurality of outer skins further includes at least one skin forming an upper portion of said door frame. 
     
     
       3. The cabinet, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rectangular frame further includes first and second lifting assemblies coupled to said upper horizontal frame members. 
     
     
       4. The cabinet, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said first and second lift assemblies each includes: a tubular lift member having a generally square cross-section;   threaded openings defined in an upper surface of said tubular lift member;   a plurality of reinforcing support members bonded internally in the cross-section of said tubular lift member; and   lift member gussets reinforcing the coupling between said tubular lift member and said upper horizontal frame members.   
     
     
       5. The cabinet, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rectangular frame further includes first and second mounting support members coupled to said lower horizontal frame members. 
     
     
       6. The cabinet, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second mounting support members each further includes: a substantially triangular mounting flange coupled to said mounting support member, said mounting flange defining a plurality of mounting openings thereon for receiving fasteners therethrough; and   a plurality of mounting flange gussets reinforcing said mounting flange.   
     
     
       7. The cabinet, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rectangular frame further includes a plurality of gussets strategically positioned to reinforce the rectangular frame. 
     
     
       8. The cabinet, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one floor skin defines at least one opening therein enabling heat exchange between the cabinet and outside air. 
     
     
       9. The cabinet, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one floor skin comprises: two identical elongated portions in parallel relationship with overlapping edges;   two identical end portions in perpendicular relationship with said elongated portions and having overlapping edges therewith; and   said elongated and end floor portions forming a level floor of said cabinet.   
     
     
       10. The cabinet, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one floor skin defines at least one opening therein for service cable passage. 
     
     
       11. The cabinet, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising at least two vertical door frame posts coupled between said upper and lower horizontal frame members defining a width dimension of said at least one door opening. 
     
     
       12. The cabinet, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising four doors with respective door frames framing respective door openings, each door forming a substantially vertical plane with a respective vertical side of the cabinet. 
     
     
       13. The cabinet, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising two double doors and two end doors with respective door frames framing respective door openings, each door forming a substantially vertical plane with a respective vertical side of the cabinet. 
     
     
       14. The cabinet, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising EMI and environmental sealing gaskets positioned between said door and said door frame. 
     
     
       15. The cabinet, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising flat strips of an EMI and environmental sealing gasket positioned between said door and said door frame. 
     
     
       16. A weathertight and EMI shielded cabinet for housing electronic equipment, comprising: a tubular frame defining a generally rectangular structure, said tubular frame including: four upper horizontal frame members, four lower horizontal frame members, and four vertical frame members bonded to one another, said vertical frame members defining two end door openings;   at least one upper cross member coupled between two of said upper horizontal frame members, and at least one lower cross member coupled between two of said lower horizontal frame members; and   two sets of vertical door frame posts coupled between said upper and lower horizontal frame members defining two lateral door openings;     a plurality of outer skins bonded to said tubular frame structure and substantially enclosing it therein, said skins including: at least one floor skin bonded to said lower horizontal frame members and forming a floor;   four corner skins bonded between said upper and lower horizontal frame members and to said vertical frame members, said corner skins substantially enclosing said vertical frame members; and   a roof bonded to said corner skins;     a door hung in each of said door openings and its exterior surface forming a substantially vertical plane with said respective vertical side of the cabinet when closing off said door opening.   
     
     
       17. The cabinet, as set forth in claim 16, wherein said tubular frame further includes first and second lifting assemblies coupled to said upper horizontal frame members. 
     
     
       18. The cabinet, as set forth in claim 17, wherein said first and second lift assemblies each includes: a tubular lift member having a generally square cross-section;   threaded openings defined in an upper surface of said tubular lift member;   a plurality of reinforcing support members bonded internally in the cross-section of said tubular lift member; and   lift member gussets reinforcing the coupling between said tubular lift member and said upper horizontal frame members.   
     
     
       19. The cabinet, as set forth in claim 16, wherein said tubular frame further includes first and second mounting support members coupled to said lower horizontal frame members. 
     
     
       20. The cabinet, as set forth in claim 19, wherein said first and second mounting support members each further includes: a substantially triangular mounting flange coupled to said mounting support member, said mounting flange defining a plurality of mounting openings thereon for receiving fasteners therethrough; and   a plurality of mounting flange gussets reinforcing said mounting flange.   
     
     
       21. The cabinet, as set forth in claim 16, wherein said tubular frame further includes a plurality of gussets strategically positioned to reinforce the tubular frame structure. 
     
     
       22. The cabinet, as set forth in claim 16, wherein said at least one floor skin defines openings therein enabling heat exchange between the cabinet and outside air and service cable passage. 
     
     
       23. The cabinet, as set forth in claim 16, wherein said floor skin comprises: two identical elongated portions in parallel relationship having overlapping elongated edges;   two identical end portions in perpendicular relationship with said elongated portions and partially overlapping edges said identical elongated portions; and   said elongated and end portions forming a level floor of said cabinet.   
     
     
       24. The cabinet, as set forth in claim 16, wherein said doors comprise two end doors adapted to close off said end door openings defined by said vertical frame members. 
     
     
       25. The cabinet, as set forth in claim 16, wherein said doors comprises two double doors adapted to close off said lateral door openings defined by said vertical door frame posts.